The “Veilchen” went down 4-1 in Poznań in September, a good first half including Matthias Braunöder’s 1-1 in the meantime was not enough to take anything countable – also because Manfred Fischer missed a penalty kick (36th). “I think we were the better team in the first 45, 60 minutes,” Schmid recalled. “We had the penalty and a huge chance through Andreas Gruber.”
Schmid described the Poles around the Swedish team striker Mikael Ishak as “opponents who play very well, but who also always provide regions and zones that you can play on,” he said with conviction. “They are very strong in the transition game with a dangerous striker.” His demand: “The remaining protection at the back must be better than in the first game.”
The form curve of his Austria, which has been plagued again and again by failures, has shown downwards in the past two weeks, with the 2: 2 against LASK after three defeats last weekend – including the embarrassing 1: 3 against the third division Sport-Club in the cup – at least write back. Schmid was happy about having passed the “character test”.
UEFA Conference League
Group stage, matchday five
Start 6.45 p.m. (live ORF1):
Austria Vienna – Lech Posen
Viola Park, SR Darren (ENG)
Possible lineups:
Austria: Früchtl – Ranftl, Galvao, Meisl, Martins – Braunöder, Fischer – Gruber, Jukic, Polster – Fitz
Posen: Bednarek – Pereira, Dagerstal, Milic, Rebocho – Kvekveskiri, Karlström – Skoras, Amaral, Szymczak – Ishak
Poznan, on the other hand, has only lost one of its last ten games, in the cup, and is coming to Vienna as the current seventh in the Polish league (ten points behind leader Rakow Czestochowa).
Austria with personnel worries
In terms of personnel, it will not be made easier for Schmid on Thursday. Central defender Lukas Mühl is still out, but there is at least hope for attackers Gruber and Aleksandar Jukic. Central defender Johannes Handl, who only played four competitive games this year, is back in training. Around 12,000 spectators are expected in the Generali Arena, the away sector for the Lech fans – classified as quite dangerous – is sold out.
The stakes are also high for Posen, who would come very close to promotion with a win. In the final home game against the hitherto flawless Villarreal, you could probably even afford a defeat. The Spaniards host Hapoel on Thursday.
Statistically speaking, a violet victory would also be a liberation: Austria has not won the European Cup for twelve games and almost five years. The last victory so far dates from November 2, 2017: At that time, Thorsten Fink won 4-1 at HNK Rijeka.
